558 



FARMERS' REGISTER— THE ROMAN MALARIA. 



(Dr. G. Brocchi,) which has deservedly attracted 

 the particiihir notice of the Ediiibiirfi^h Review;* 

 this branch of the subject is discussed ; and it is 

 there admitted, that to a certain degree, warm, and 

 in particular woollen clothing, in short non-con- 

 ductino; coverings of any kind, are best titted to 

 resist tlie impressions of many diseases, and per- 

 haps, in a degree, the malaria itself, by its effect on 

 the predisi)osing causes.f 



Thus it appears, that when a country is liable 

 to malaria, it may be completely got rid of, or at 

 at least its mischievous elfects materially diminish- 

 ed, chiefly " by agricultural improvements." And 

 this is not a mere theoretical assertion, for the ad- 

 vantages of such measures have been proved, in the 

 most satisfactory manner, by the experience of 

 several marshy or fenny districts in England. Be- 

 fore they were properly drained, strangers haidly 

 ever ventured to visit them, from the certainty of 

 being subjected to the ague. The inhabitants 

 themselvesof these districts, were seldom exempted 

 from that distressing complaint, and thence were 

 distinguished by an emaciated and jaundiced look. 

 But since the improvements which have been 

 effected by agriculture, they have become as 

 healthy as their neighbors The same results may 

 confidently be relied on, if the same means of im- 

 provement were introduced into Italy, or any 

 other country similarly circumstanced; and it 

 ■would soon be proved, that agriculture was not 

 only the means of providing food, but might like- 

 wise effectually contribute to the healthiness of a 

 country, and the security of its inhabitants from 

 disease. Along our easten coasts indeed, we are 

 interested in the exemption of our neighbors in 

 Holland from that disorder ; for there is reason to 

 believe, that a species of malaria is transported 

 from that country, to the British shores, by the 

 easterly winds, which, in part at least, is the cir- 

 cumstance that renders them so unhealthy. . 



These hints are earnestly recommendetf to the 

 ^reader's attention ; and indeed there is reason to 

 ]iope, if the following plan were adopted, that the 

 malaria may be greatly I'educed in its violence, if 

 not totally extirpated, in those countries which are 

 ^mforfunately afiiicted with that disorder. It 

 .m.yst therefore be a darling object with every true 

 pliilanthropist, anxious to promote the interests of 

 his fellow men, that some experiments on a great 

 scale should be set on foot, to ascertain the effects 

 fif the measures proposed, and above all, that their 

 ^jflficacy should be tried in the neighborhood of 

 Rome, to prevent the prophecy from being accom- 

 plished, " That if the malaria is suffered progres- 

 sively to increase, the time is not fiir distant, when 

 the Eternal City shall be no morej." For ac- 

 complishing so important an ol ject, the following 

 plan is submitted to the reader's consideration : 



Plan of an jissociation, to he called " the Society 

 for the extirpation of the Roman Malaria " 



1. The Society shall consist of a President, fbui' 

 Vice Presidents, and twelve Directors, with an 

 indefinite number of Members. 



2. That the subscription shall only be £2 per 

 annum from each member, but that donations, to 

 any amount, shall be thankfully received from 

 those who are anxious for the success of the plan. 



* Vol. x.\;xvi. p. 5.-]6. f Ibid, p. 550. 



I See Edinburgh Review, vol. xx.wi. p. 552. 



3. That as .soon as it can be effected, and if pos- 

 sible before the next season of the malaria com- 

 mences, one or more intelligent engineers shall be 

 sent to Rome, to examine into the state of that in- 

 teresting part of Italy, to make maps or plans of 

 all the territory in the neighborhood of Rome pe- 

 culiarly sul)ject to the malaria; and to ascertain 

 the means, by which they can be most effectually 

 drained, and brought into cultivation. To point 

 out also, where other improvements should take 

 place, as in regard to embankments, digging of 

 wells, tliinning of woods, &c. 



4. That every inquiry shall be made, where 

 lime-stone can be got in that ])art of Italy, and 

 that the best means, of pi'ocuring fuel for the 

 burning it into lime, shall be ascertained ; for the 

 introduction of immense quantities of calcareous 

 matter into the soil, not only contributes to its im- 

 provement, but is the best means of preventing 

 malaria. 



5. That the persons employed for these purpo- 

 ses, shall draw up a plan, and estimate of the 

 expense of carrying on the measures, most likely 

 to prevent the malaria in future, and to establish 

 the salubrity of the climate of that part of Italy; 

 and that such a plan shall be carried into effect 

 next year, as soon as the season will admit of it. 



6. That as soon as the society shall be establish- 

 ed, the whole plan shall be submitted to the consi- 

 deration of the Roman government, and its aid and 

 authority be requested, for accomplishing the same ; 

 and, in particular, the necessary powers for mak- 

 ing, with as little delay as possible, those improve- 

 ments, which are essential for exempting the city 

 and territory of Home, from the horrors of the 

 malaria. john sinclahi. 

 133. George Street, Edinburgh, > 



10//i jJpril, 1833. 5 



Description of "the Campagna di Roma," and on 

 the means of promoting its improvement. 

 Since the paper on the subject of the Roman 

 malaria was sent to the press, my attention was 

 directed to an interesting work, entitled, " j?t07/te 

 in the 19M Century," in three volumes octavo, 

 printed in Edinburgh, 1820. It contains a series 

 of letters, v.ritten during a residence at Rome, in 

 the years 1817 and 1818, and is drawn up with so 

 much ability, that the author need not have been 

 apprehensive of prefixing his name. Indeed it 

 was so popular a work, as to run through four edi- 

 tions. The information it contains on the subject 

 of the malaria is highly interesting, and strongly 

 in favor of making every possible exertion, to 

 banish such a scourge from the most interesting 

 part of Europe. 



" That dreary solitude (the Campagna,) si retch- 

 es al out twenty miles in every (lirection, to the 

 base of those hills by vviiich the plain is surround- 

 ed. To the west, a wild sullen flat extends to the 

 sea. A profusion of bushy thickets, and a few 

 solitary trees, were scattered over the broken sur- 

 face of this unenclosed and houseless plain,— for it 

 is a jdain, — since, at the distance of sixteen miles, 

 where we now stood, we distinctly saw Rome. But 

 it is not a dead flat, as many have asserted ; on the 

 contrary, it is generally undulating ground, inter- 

 spersed with broken hillocks, and steep banks, co- 

 vered Avilh wild shrubby oak-wood, or lonely flat- 

 topped pine-trees." 



